Dwarf Retic Starting on Feed

[reptileexperts]

Ok, so I thought I'd throw out a little game of question and answer time to try and see what people think on this matter. I'm waiting on one of my newest retic girls to be shipped, but the breeder is still waiting on it to take its first meal (not no loss in mass, attitude, or energy, just taking its time). This got me to thinking about some of the biology of Dwarf species of retics, and how natural selection may be a particularly strong influence on this matter. So here are my thoughts, and I'd like some other thoughts on the matter just to see what people think. Keep in mind - My background is conservation biology with a B.S. in Biology, Chemistry, and an A.S. in Natural Science with a minor in Geology :-). This is only said so that you can understand why I'm approaching this in a more critical thinking approach.

After talking with Dwarf and Super Dwarf reticulated python breeders, it seems that many of them have normal cases of slow started individuals, that is that there is more and more enlongated periods of feeding trials that are unsuccessful before a snake will finally take in food. We know that for most species in captivity, and in the wild, snakes typically do not get that feeding responce until they have absorbed the available yolk sack provided at birth. This process allows them to go for extended periods of time without needing to feed. Some species will eat immediatly outside of the egg (in captivity even eating while emerging from the egg as seen in hognose), but these dwarfs seem to just take their time. . .

Examing the natural history for a second, because as conservation biologists we have to examine what the external influence is on a species. We know that the dwarf species of retics were selected that way because they were an apex predator on small remote islands. This allowed them less access to food, and so slower, smaller growing retics were selected as a result, and were thus able to continue to exist. . . But what about what happens in the egg? Again this is now where hypothesis and speculation come into play.

My assumption, for what its worth, is that Dwarf species of retics and similar (consider burmese dwarf species as well) are born with large yolks that are digested at a much slower rate. This gives them a strong ability to go much longer than typical mainland retics and burmese, before having that need or desire to start on food. Maybe it's not in all cases, and maybe it only exist in a select few, but there is a good chane that this is the case for many.

So question my hypothesis. Counter it with a scientific argument. And let's see what we can figure out collectively in regards to this matter.

Why do Dwarf species of large constrictors take longer times to start feeding?

Cheers,

Cody Conway

[millertime89]

I think it potentially has something to do with their location on the food chain as hatchlings
Quite a bit lower than even a mainland hatching. In the environment that they're in where EVERYTHING is another predator I would assume it is just natural selection again selecting the snakes born with the instinct to hide until they've digested the yoke and started to grow. Obviously there's some holes because as you pointed out there are other species such as hognose that don't, but its well documented in other amall SE Asian species of python that babies can be tricky to get eating, Savu's, Macklots, carpets, etc.

[reptileexperts]

Sure, but iconically we're looking at the difference in mainland retics vs the smaller island versions. Mainland retics are easy to get started on food, and will generally start eating within the first 7 days of birth away from the egg. It's within these smaller island chains of retics that the difference is most noted for being problematic to feed.

So yes, the contrast is to decide whether or not in this hypoethsis dwarfs have a slower yolk absorbtion as the possible answer for these problematic feeders.

[millertime89]

It would make sense, although I'm not really sure how you would be able to test it. I'll ask a few breeders I know their thoughts. That said I know most of them don't have problems getting their dwarfs and SDs to start eating, they just don't offer right away.

[reptileexperts]

You could test it easily - but at a sever cost of numerous snakes lives. You may be able to do candling and try nice and hard to get an exact yolk measure in an egg to compare, but it still would be difficult that way.